Google Warning – Microsoft Is Bad For The Internet
Seems that the war between Google and Microsoft is turning a little more accusatory even since Microsoft protested the Google – Double Click deal. On their blog Google calls Microsoft’s recent activities in trying to buy Yahoo a serious threat to all consumers. Citing previous illegal and deceptive practices when it came to the PC, Google fears that Microsoft could stop any type of innovation on the Internet if the deal proceeds.
The Google blog states:
The openness of the Internet is what made Google — and Yahoo! — possible. A good idea that users find useful spreads quickly. Businesses can be created around the idea. Users benefit from constant innovation. It’s what makes the Internet such an exciting place.
So Microsoft’s hostile bid for Yahoo! raises troubling questions. This is about more than simply a financial transaction, one company taking over another. It’s about preserving the underlying principles of the Internet: openness and innovation.
Could Microsoft now attempt to exert the same sort of inappropriate and illegal influence over the Internet that it did with the PC? While the Internet rewards competitive innovation, Microsoft has frequently sought to establish proprietary monopolies — and then leverage its dominance into new, adjacent markets.
Could the acquisition of Yahoo! allow Microsoft — despite its legacy of serious legal and regulatory offenses — to extend unfair practices from browsers and operating systems to the Internet? In addition, Microsoft plus Yahoo! equals an overwhelming share of instant messaging and web email accounts. And between them, the two companies operate the two most heavily trafficked portals on the Internet. Could a combination of the two take advantage of a PC software monopoly to unfairly limit the ability of consumers to freely access competitors’ email, IM, and web-based services? Policymakers around the world need to ask these questions — and consumers deserve satisfying answers.
Google sees that way that Microsoft destroyed Netscape and wonders if they could do the same to Google. Microsoft could try and lock out users of certain services from using Yahoo or other content providers. It is unfortuante but Google does have some valid points. Recently the court has extended the oversight of Microsoft and its Windows operating system indicating the Redmond company still doesn’t play well with others.
What do you think? Is what Google saying justified or just part of their revenge against Microsoft?
Comments welcome.
Full Google article is here.
[tags]google, microsoft, yahoo, competition, consumers, windows, courts, [/tags]
